Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to Martin Folkes, written from Paris and dated 25 November 1743 [D2890]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV37435
Repository:
Shelfmark:
MM/16/41, ‘Letter from Francois Marie Arouet de Voltaire, Paris, to Martin Folkes’
Title:
Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to Martin Folkes, written from Paris and dated 25 November 1743 [D2890]
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No related manuscripts found.
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Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Sr, One of my strongest desires was to be naturaliz’d in England
Incipit Modernised:
Sir, one of my strongest desires was to be naturalised in England
In Voltaire’s Hand:
Yes
Brief Summary:
Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to Martin Folkes, written from Paris and dated 25 November 1743.
Detailed Summary:
Voltaire notes that his strongest desire was to be naturalised in England, and that the Royal Society, prompted by Folkes, have given him that great honour. He lists the English writes who have influenced him: Shakespeare, Addison, Dryden, and Pope, and adds that he also entered into the ‘temple of philosophy’ where he admired the ‘altar of Newton’. Voltaire states that he was so bold as to introduce Newton into France, but that in doing so he became not only a confessor to his faith but a martyr also. He then turns to press, bemoaning and satirising its restrictions, and noting that the Royal Society has rewarded him for his sufferings. He ends by paying his respect to the brethren of the Royal Society and stating his desire to cross the sea in order to give them his ‘hearty thanks’.
The Royal Society dates the letter to 29 March 1743, however Besterman instead gives the date as 25 November 1743. As Voltaire was elected on 3 November 1743, we have followed Besterman’s dating here.
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
2 ff.
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Hands:
1
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Decorations:
Undecorated
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History
Date:
25 November 1743
Ownership:
Owned by viscountess Downe.
Origin (transcript):
Paris
Origin:
Provenance:
The MS was inherited by viscountess Downe. It was then bought by Maggs and passed at the Sotheby’s sale in London on 27 June 1932 (Lot. 113). The MS then passed into the Giuseppe Salem collection before being acquired by the Theodore Besterman Collection at the Institut et musée Voltaire, Geneva. The MS was donated by the IMV to the Royal Society.
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